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Zoë Kravitz Lets The Cat Out Of The Bag!

blog mindfulness Mar 17, 2022

 

With the release of Matt Reeves' superhero thriller, The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson as the caped crusader, Paul Dano of There Will Be Blood and Little Miss Sunshine fame as the Riddler, and Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle, aka Catwoman, people can't stop talking about the darker take on the world of DC Comics' most iconic vigilante.

 

If you've ever picked up a batman comic or watched Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy and enjoyed the gritty atmosphere amongst the streets of Gotham and its villains, you're in luck. Reeves does a fantastic job expressing the darkest depths of the despairing fictional City, maybe too well, specifically through its unhinged criminals, corrupt officials, and constantly horrible weather. I think those of us in the UK can relate. No, seriously, it's raining as I'm writing this! Also, parents with young children take caution because this is not a film for kids! Now that my movie appreciation and warning are over, I want to let the cat out of the bag. Sorry, I'm horrible at idioms, but hey, at least I'm smiling despite the rain outside my window!  

 

Who is Zoë Kravitz?

 

“There’s a lot of beauty in surrendering to the fact that you have no idea what’s going on,”

- Zoë Kravitz

 

Funny story, but when my sister had booked tickets for a bunch of us to watch The Batman, I had no idea that three of my closest friends had also seen the movie the same evening in various cinemas around the country.

I know what you're thinking, I'm probably a poor friend for having no idea what any of my mates were doing, but it worked out well because now I won't accidentally reveal any spoilers!

The curious thing was that everyone had the same thing to say. 'I really enjoyed the portrayal of Catwoman. Who is the actress? She's so cool and attractive, yadda yadda yadda. I also agreed with them. Her storyline was engaging, and her depiction of the beloved antihero was the best I've seen on the big screen so far. Notice that I said big screen because I'm a massive Earth Kitt fan!

After the film, I wanted to know how she prepared for her role? Did she use any mindful activities such as yoga, pilates, breathing exercises, and meditation? I also loved her bohemian style, which I find similar to Willow Smith; therefore, I was curious about her background and decided to do some personal research. Here's what I found. 

 
 
 
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A post shared by Zoë Kravitz (@zoeisabellakravitz)

 

Zoë Isabella Kravitz is a talented American actress, singer, and model in her own right but did you know she is also the daughter of actor/rock star Lenny Kravitz and actress Lisa Bonet? Of course, you didn't! Oh, you did you say. Sure, I believe you. 

She first entered the scene in the 2007 romantic comedy film No Reservations but had her breakthrough role playing Angel Salvadore in 2011's X-Men: First Class. Yes, this isn't her first time portraying a comic book character!

Most recently, she's been a part of a couple of prominent projects on the big and small screen, including her portrayal as Leta Lestrange in the Fantastic Beasts film series. Kravitz had a lead role in the drama series Big Little Lies and the 2020 comedy series High Fidelity, for which she won a Black Reel Award for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series. She also stars in the 2022 Steven Soderbergh thriller film Kimi. 

 

Behind The Mask

For an entertainer who has been dominating the screen, whether it's cinema, television, photography, and voice acting for the last decade, it must have been essential to take care of your general well-being. Luckily Zoë has been very open about her physical and mental growth leading up to and through her role as Catwoman. 

In a February interview with Jessica Herndon for Elle Magazine, Kravitz let her into her thoughts and feelings around her family, career, and general well-being. Herndon also praised Kravitz's acute level of self-awareness and openness. 

 
 
 
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A post shared by ELLE Magazine (@elleusa)

 

I'm going to show five times during the interview Zoë showed the viewers a mindful evaluation of her thoughts and emotions! 

 

1. She has an acceptance of who she is and her heritage.

When talking to Herndon about her upbringing, Zoë shared how she has matured over the years and come to embrace her family name. 

"I’m proud of where I come from. Now it’s nice to be in a space where I feel like when people ask me about my parents, I’m not like, ‘Let’s not talk about that.’ I’m like, ‘They’re awesome. I’m grateful to be their child. And I also am my own human being."

Growing up as the child of famous parents can have its advantages and disadvantages. You're instantly thrown into the public eye and have no say about it. To be able to look at your situation with intention and tackle your insecurity in a non-judgemental and kind way is mindful.

Matt Reeves, the director of The Batman, noticed this maturity, confidence, and self-awareness during casting calls back in 2019. Reeves commented on her audition and had this to say:

“Zoë had her game face on. But you can only prepare so much, and then you just have to go—and she had it.”


During filming, he also had this to say.


“There was never a moment where she was guarded or insecure. She has good instincts. She’s incredibly smart, very funny, honest, unpretentious, and she had great ideas about character evolution. She is a great creative partner.”

 

2. She checks in with herself to understand her thoughts and feelings.

Going through a divorce is challenging, especially when you're working on the biggest movie of the year! We need to respect the privacy of the individuals involved; remember, curiosity killed the cat! However, the way in which Kravitz discusses this significant change in her relationship is mature and grounded.

“It was a gift, just taking the time.”

And when asked about her ex-partner, she said this.

“Karl’s an incredible human being. It really is less about him and more about me learning how to ask myself questions about who I am and still learning who I am, and that being okay. That’s the journey I’m on right now.”

 

3. She stays in the present.

Many of us are guilty of pondering our past and allowing it to fill us with insecurity and embarrassment. Being able to stay present and tackle your reality head-on each day is a great way to prioritise your well-being. She admits,

“I never want to go back. I was a mess. I wasn’t making choices based on what felt good to me. Now we’re in an era of, What do I actually want? The good spot right now is taking a minute to say, ‘Maybe I should do this differently,’ and seeing what that feels like.”

She also took a break from Instagram in 2021 to get away from public discourse after internet trolls attacked her on the platform for her 2021 Met Gala outfit.

"The fact that I’m like, ‘Should I have not worn that?’ No, I do what I want to do, and I make what I want to make, and if I’m now starting to be afraid of what other people are going to say or think, I’m no longer doing my job as an artist. I’m not experiencing the world and putting that into art. I’m walking on eggshells. Fuck that. So, I needed to take a minute.”

 

4. She's appreciative of the people in her life.

Life is busy, and it can become hard to check in with friends and family. Trust me. I've been there! Every month actually😅, but I'm trying like we all should be. Someone as busy as Kravitz who can stay appreciative of her inner circle is fantastic. We all could take a page out of her book and show a little gratitude for our loved ones. Zoë told Herndon,

“I have incredible friends, and I have a great relationship with my parents, so I have a place to go with my emotions, always.”

 

5. She surrounds herself with great people.

The actor has many notable creator friends such as Donald Glover, Ramy Youssef, and Alicia Keys, who Kravitz praises for uplifting each other as women and creatives.

“We remind each other that we are special, powerful, and important. Her trajectory is incomparable, and it’s effortless in this beautiful way. She’s completely that embodiment of creative freedom. Whatever she does is natural, honest, pure. She’s the definition of a true artist.”

You know what they say, show me your friends, and I'll show you your future.

 
 
 
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A post shared by Alicia Keys (@aliciakeys)

 

After all this talk about Catwoman actress Zoë Kravitz, I think it's about time I took a little cat nap. I'm tired😄.

Sometimes we don't always use the term mindfulness when referring to someone who uses mindful thinking. It may take decades to learn these skills naturally, and there is no guarantee you will, but I truly believe that educating yourself early on can have massive benefits. My grandmother used to say you don't have to go through every struggle to learn a lesson; you can also read the book, which means learning from others' mistakes and educating yourself from them. 

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